However, these stations often aired programming substantially different from other TVA affiliates – even though Télé-Métropole, owner of CFTM-TV, was the major minority shareholder.
In those days, TVA, much like CTV at the time and Global in the early-2000s, did not have what could be considered a main network schedule.
The closest parallel to this in English Canada was the now-defunct Baton Broadcast System (BBS; in operation during the 1990s), as most of its stations were also CTV affiliates.
[2][4] The sale unified the ownership of most of TVA's major affiliates (except outlets owned by Radio-Nord and Télé Inter-Rives, the latter whose 45% share is now owned by TVA) and ultimately unified the network's schedule.
Pathonic Communications also owned CKMI-TV, an English-language station in Quebec City which was affiliated with CBC Television until 1997 (and which is now a Montreal-based Global owned and operated station).